China denies its troops crossed the Line of Actual Control into India as Defence Minister Parrikar tells Parliament that the 'transgression has been settled'

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has played down reports of an ‘incursion’ across the disputed boundary in Uttarakhand, saying its troops did not cross the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC).

PLA Senior Colonel Yang Yujun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, told a press briefing that China “still needed to verify the authenticity of the report” but added that Chinese troops “always conduct activities on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control”.

His comments came as Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told Parliament on Thursday that “there was no incursion by Chinese troops, just a transgression which has been settled”.

China's People Liberation Army has played down reports of an ‘incursion’ across the disputed boundary in Uttarakhand, saying its troops did not cross the contested Line of Actual Control

“The India-China border is not formally demarcated. There are areas where both sides have differing perceptions of the LAC. Barahoti in Uttarakhand is one such area,” Parrikar said, adding that “there is a well defined mechanism to settle such transgressions.”

Indian and Chinese officials have both sought to play down reports of “incursions”, describing them instead as “transgressions” across the LAC that take place in certain sections where there are overlapping claim lines of the undemarcated LAC.

A Senior Colonel said the Chinese troops 'always abide by relevant agreements signed between the two countries'

However, several stand-off incidents have taken place in the western sector in Ladakh and strained relations, prompting both sides in recent months to deepen confidence building measures, including holding for the first time disaster relief and humanitarian joint drills along the LAC, and to also increase the number of border personnel meeting points.

The PLA Senior Colonel said the Chinese troops “always abide by relevant agreements signed between the two countries.”

The Chinese troops “always conduct activities on the Chinese side of the LAC.